Power press



Oct. 10, 1933. p PENDLETON 1,930,349

POWER PRES 5 Filed Sept. 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l WIT/visas x v fl rronzzz YZS Qci. 10, 1933. P. L. PENDLETON 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @wM/vrm B Y m n flrro IYEYS POWER PRESS Filed Sept. 1, 1930 Patented Oct. 10, 1933 POWER PRESS Pyam L. Pendleton,

Pantex Pressing Machine,

Pawtucket, R. I., assignor to 1110., Pawtuckct,

R. 1., a corporation of Delaware Application September 1, 1930. Serial No. 479,121

6 Claims.

vention relates to a garment pressing iapted to be used by tailors, drycleanmanufacturers and others for tats the placing of the garments thereon preparatory to pressing.

In machines of this character it is a common practice to operate the press head from its open to its closed position by fluid-pressure-operated motors or other power mechanism to be returned to its open position by counter-weights or equivnt retracting means.

is obvious, however, that when operated throng-" its pressure stroke by power more orless beyond tb control of the operator there is always pre nt the liability of introducing the hands or ar' of the operator between the pressing elements either from necessity in straightening out the garments on the buck or through carelessness on the part of the operator.

this reason various devices have heretofore provded requiring the use of both hands of the operator in the control of the power to the motor or some part of the connections between the motor and press head to reduce the danger factor to a minimum.

h se so-called two-hand controls are necesy comp icated and add materially to the cost of the machine and the main object of the presinvention is to avoid the use of these twohanded'power control systems by necessitating the hand operation of the press head from its open to its closed position before the power can i applied and thereby to further reduce the liaity of accident to the operator during such movement by making it practically impossible to operate the press head to its pressing position by power unt l it is closed or at least sufficiently closed to 1 event any possibility of getting any part of the fingers, hand or arms of the operator between the pressing elements when the power is applied.

In other words I have sought to provide simand efficient power-operated means for exertpressure upon the head toward the buck only after said head has been moved by hand to its closed position.

One of the specific objects is to provide a normally open or broken mechanical linkage between the power unit and press head controlled entirely by the movement of the press head from its open to its closed position so that the linkage between the power unit and press head will not be completed until the-press head is brought substantially to its closed position at which time the operation of the power unit will be optional with the operator.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the machine will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a garment pressing machine embodying the various features of my invention, the press head and operating means therefor being shown by full lines in their normal open positions and by dotted lines in their closed positions. V

Figure 2 is a similar side elevation of the same machine showing the press head and operating means therefor in their closed positions.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken in the plane of line 3--3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken in the plane of line l-4,.Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 55, Figure 4. v

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken in the plane of line 6-6, Figure 5..

As illustrated this machine comprises a frame -1-- having a work table 2 and pedestals 3 and -3'- projecting upwardly above the work table for receiving and supporting a lower pressing element or buck -4, and a rocker arm --5- carrying an upper pressing element or head The buck -4-- and press head -6- may: be heated by any well-known means and one or both of these pressing elements may be provided with means commonly employed in machines of this type for supplying steam to the article under pressure for rendering the same pliable preparatory to pressing, shaping and drying said article but, in view of the fact that the means for heating and also the means for introducing steam into the garment forms no part of my present invention, it is not necessary to further illustrate or describe the construction of the buck or press head.

The rocker arm -5- constitutes a lever of the first order in that it is fulcrumed or pivoted at -"iintermediate its ends to the pedestal 3- to swing about an axis parallel with the longitudinal center of the buck and some distance to the rear thereof to leave a clear open space entirely around the marginal edges of the buck for the proper manipulation and positioning of the work thereon, the head 6- being mounted upon the front end of the rocker arm -5-- to move about the axis of the pivot -7 into and out of pressing co-action with the buck 4.

The rear end of the rocker arm 5 is provided with a counter-weight 8-- adapted to counter-balance the weight of the head 6 to normally hold the latter in its open position, said counter-weight 8- being provided with a recess -9- opening from the lower side thereof for receivin a portion of a relatively small lever l0- and a coil spring 11-, the lever lO- being pivoted at its forward end at 12- to the rocker arm -5 and extended rearwardly across the recess 9- for engagement with the lower end of the spring -llhaving its upper end en aged with the top wall of the recess, the rear end of the lever -10-- being held by the spring -1 1- against a limiting stop -l3- on the lower side of the rear end of the rocker arm -5 as shown in Figure 1.

The intermediate portion of the lever 10 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a longitudinally extensible toggle link -14- having its lower end pivotally connected at l5 to the upper end of another toggle link -16- which has its lower end pivotally connected at 17 to the lower rear portion of the frame -1--.

The links -14- and -16- with their pivotal connection --l5- constitute a toggle connection betweenthe frame and rear end of the rocker arm -5 through the medium of the lever -lO-, which, together with the spring 11,

forms a resilient connection between the toggle and rocker arm 5- to relieve the press head from excessive shock when brought into pressing.

co-action with the buck and also to compensate for varying thicknesses of the articles operated upon.

That is, if the press head should be brought into pressing co-action with the buck before the toggle members l4- and -16- are straightened, said toggle could have a further straightening movement against the action of the spring 11 through its connection with the lever -10.

The intermediate portion of the lower toggle link -l6 is pivotally connected by a link --l8 to the rear end of what may be termed a semifloating lever 19- which is pivoted intermediate its ends at 20 to a power operated lever 2land has its forward end provided with a roller -22+ movable into and out of engagement with a latch or detent 23- in a manner and for a purpose presently described.

The power operated lever 2l extends forwardly and rearwardly beyond its pivotal connection -20-.- with the semi-floating lever -19-. and has its rear end pivoted at 24- to the frame of the machine and its front end pivotally connected at 25- to a yoke 2S which is mounted on the upper end of a piston rod -27- of a fluid-pressure-operated motor 28 the .latter being mounted upon the lower front portion of'the frame of the machine.

The latch 23 is arranged in an uprightposition in approximately the vertical plane of the semi-floating lever -19 and has its lower end pivoted at 2Q to a vertically adjustable link -30 and its upper end provided with a rearwardly projecting shoulder or fulcrum member 23 adapted to be engaged bythe forward end 22- of the semi-floating lever l9- when the latter has been rocked about its pivot 20- to a predetermined position by the closing of the head -6 upon the buck 4.

That is,ithe linkage between the power lever -21 and press head 6- is arranged in such manner that when the press head is fully opened, the front end of the semi-floating lever l9 will be some distance above and at the rear of the shoulder -23'- on the latch -23- and when the press head is closed or substantially closed against the upper face of the buck the front end 22- of the semi-floating lever 19 will be brought into operative engagement with the shoulder -Z3' of the latch 23 without in any way affecting the operation or normal position of the power lever 21-.

i The latch lever -23 is yieldingly held in position to automatically engage the front end 22- of the semi-floating lever l9 when the press head is closed, by means of a coil spring -31 which is interposed between the rear edge of the latch -23- and front portion of the frame l for normally urging th upper end of the latch rearwardly and permitting said latch to yield forwardly when engaged by the front end -22 of the semi-floating lever -l9-.

The supporting member -30- for the latch 23- is pivoted at 32 to the front portion of the frame -1- and has its rear end connected by a bolt -3 to an underlying bracket 34- on the frame whereby the member -30- and latch may be adjusted vertically to bring its shoulder -23 into proper position for interlocking engagement with the front end 22 of the semi-floating lever -l9 when the press head -6 is brought to its pressing position.

Suitable means is provided for withdrawing the latch lever -Z3 from itsoperativeposition and for this purpose a hand lever ,-35- of the bell crank type is pivoted at 36 to a portion of the frame --1 and has its forwardly projecting arin' providedwith a handle 35- and its other arm provided with a link S7 having a. slotted portion -37 adapted to receive a pin 38- on the upper end of the latch 23-- above the shoulder 23 so that the lifting of the front end of the lever .35 will cause the rear wall of the slotted portion -37 of the link -37- to withdraw the latch 23 out of the path of movement of the front end 22- of the semifloating lever -19-.

When the latch is withdrawn in the manner just described it is evident that the press head 6 may be closed and opened by hand without in any way affecting the operation of the power lever -21- and it is equally evident that the power lever -2l may be operated by the mot'or 28 without in any way affecting the operation of the press head.

It is also obvious that when the hand lever 35 is restoredto its normal position to permit the latch lever -23- to assume its operative position the press head 6 may be moved from its open position to substantially its closed position and vice versa without engaging the front end 22 of the semi-floating lever l9- with the latch shoulder -23 and that under these conditions the power lever 2lmay be operated by' the motor without in any way affecting the operation of the press head.

In other words power from the motor --28- can not be applied to move the press head from its extreme open position to its closed position and the motor only becomes efiective when the press head is closed by hand, which time the front end -'22 of the semi-floating lever -19 will be brought into locking engagement with the shoulder -23- of the latch -23.

When the press head is thus closed by hand to bring the front end -22- of the semi-floating lever -l9 into engagement with the latch shoulder -2B'-- the motor 28.- may be operated to raise the front end of the power lever 21- about its pivot -Z4, thereby rocking the rear end of the semi-floating lever l9 upwardly about the fulcrum connection between the lever --l9 and latch -28- for additionally straightening the toggle .members --l4 and -l6 through the medium of the link -l8- and incidentally exerting pressure of the press head upon the article on the buck -4-, Figure 2.

When the press head 6 is moved by hand from its extreme open position to substantially its closed position the toggle members l4 and -l6-- will approximate a strai htened position, although slightly fiexed inwardly as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, at which time the front end 22- of the lever 19 will be in operative position to engage the shoulder -2' of the latch 23 ready for the operation of the motor -28 upon the lever 21- for completing the closing movement of the press head upon the work and straightening the toggle members -l4- and 6 to lock the press head in its pressing position until released by the operation of the lever 35 either by hand or automatically in a manner presently described, for withdrawing the latch -3--- from its operative position.

The means for automatically tripping the latch or detent 23includes an upright bell-cranklever 40- pivoted at -4lto the front portion of the frame l--, some distance belowrthe hand lever 35-- and having its upper arm adapted to engage the rear edge of the pendent arm of the hand lever 35.-, the lower arm of the lever -40 being provided with a roller -42- adapted to be engaged by the rear arm of an operating lever 43 which is pivoted at 44 to the yoke 26 on the piston rod -27 and has its forward end weighted to normally hold the same against ,an underlying limiting stop l5- on the yoke -26- When the piston rod 27- and yoke 26-- are in their normal. or extreme down positions the rear end of the lever -43 will underlie the lower end 42- of the lever l0- so that when the press head --6- is closed by hand and the front end -22-- of the lever ll9 is brought into operative engagement with the shoulder -23 of the latch -23- and power is applied to the motor 28 the upward movement of the piston rod -2'. and its yoke 26- will cause the rear end of the lever -e3 to engage the lower end 42- or the lever 4()--, thereby rocking said lever 43- against the action or" its counter-weight -44- until the lower end of the lever 43,- passes upwardly beyond the roller i2- at which time the press head -6 will have been forced into pressing engagement with the work upon the buck -4-.

When the motive power for the motor 2S'- is cut off the piston rod --27- will automatically descend by its own weight aided by that of the front end of the lever --2l, therebycausing the rear end of the tripping lever-43- to engage the roller -42- and force the lower end of the lever -40 rearwardly which will cause the upper end of the lever to rock the lower arm of the bell-cranklever -35 and link -3'7- in the same direction for tripping the latch -"3 from engagement with the front end 22 of the lever -19.

As previously stated, when the press head -6-- is closed upon the work by the operation of the motor -28- the toggle members -l4 and 16-- will assume a straightened position, thereby locking the press head in its closed position and ittherefore becomes necessary to provide some means for flexing the toggle inwardly from its straightened position before the press head can be raised.

For this latter purpose, a releasing lever -46 is pivoted at its rear end at -47- to the frame -1 to extend forwardly therefrom directly over the intermediate portion of the lever 21 to play between a pair of limiting stops 48, said release lever l6- being spring pressed into engagement with the lower stop -48- by means of a coiled-spring 50.

It therefore follows that when the front end i of the lever -2 lis raised by the upward movement of the piston rod 27 of the motor 28-, the intermediate portion of the lever -21 will engage and raise the front end of the release lever -i6- against the action of the spring -50-, thus causing the spring -50- to exert downward pressure upon the lever 21-.

This downward spring pressure upon "the lever -21- is arranged to continue until after the latch --23 has been withdrawn from engagement with the front end of the lever 19 by the operation of the tripping lever -43 against the lower end of the lever -40- and resultant operation of the levers -35 and link -37 to trip the latch -23-, these latter operations being caused by the downward movement of the piston rod 27- of the motor -28- after the press head has performed its pressing operation upon the work, at which time the downward pressure of the lever 46 upon the lever -21- will i be transmitted through the pivot -20- to the lever l9, thereby allowing the rear weighted end of the lever -19--- to rock about the pivot 20 and through the medium or the link 18, to flex the toggle members 14 and -l6-- forwardly a sufficient distance to enable the counter-weight -8- to continue the automatic opening movementfof the press head to its extreme open position as shown in Figure 1, it being understood that the rear end of the lever --19- is provided with extra weight l9'- to 1 eflect this initial. automatic opening movement of the press head.

Motor control g V l The motor -28- is preferably of the fluid pressure piston type comprising an upright cylinder -28 and a hollow piston 5lhaving a piston rod --27- connected thereto as shown more clearly in Figure 4, said cylinder being pro vided with a suitable gland --5f2- in which the piston -51. is movable.

, The cylinder -28'-- is provided with a suitable piston chamber '-53- open at the top for receiving the piston -51- and has its lower end provided with an inlet chamber -54-, an outlet chamber -55- and a heating chamber -56, the inlet chamber being connected by a pipe --57-'to any suitable source of supply for steam or other fluid under pressure while the outlet chamber discharges through a pipe -58- to the atmosphere or to any waste reservoir, not shown.

The heating chamber 56 communicates with the inlet chamber 54 below the lower end of the piston 5l, as shown more clearly in Figure 6, and is provided with a drainage pipe 59 connected to the waste pipe --5B- through the medium of a trap 60 having adjustable means as 61-- for opening and closing communication between the heating chamber --56 and waste pipe 58.

The steam receiving chamber 54- is connected to the lower end of the piston chamber --53- by means of a port 62 which is controlled by a self-closing valve 63, spring pressed against its seat by coil spring 64 in the direction of flow of steam, said valve being mounted upon a stem 65- which extends to the exterior of the base of the cylinder 28 to be opened against the action of the spring 64- in a manner hereinafter described.

The lower end of the piston chamber 53- is also connected by a port 66- to the exhaust chamber 55, said port being controlled by a self-closing valve 67 which is normally held against its seat by coil spring 68-, the valve being provided with a stem -69 extending to the exterior of the base of the cylinder to be opened against the action of the spring in a manner presently described.

These valves 63- and 6'7 operate inde pendently of each other and for this purpose a pair of bell-crank-levers-70- and -'70 are pivoted respectively at '7l and 71 to opposite sides of the cylinder -28- to extend downwardly therefrom across and closely adjacent the outer ends of the valve stems 65 and 69- respectively.

Each bell-crank-lever is connected by a link -72 to one end of a hand lever 73- which is pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine below the table 2- near the front edge thereof for convenience of operation as shown The lower end of the piston rod 2'7 is con.

nected to the lower end of the piston by means of a ball and socket joint -'74=- to compensate for slight inaccuracies in the axial alignment of the piston and rod, the upper end of said rod being screw threaded and engaged in a threaded socket in the lower end of the yoke 26- to enable the yoke and the piston to be relatively adjusted as may be required to produce the desired timing of the operation of the levers --2l and --19-.

- Operation Assuming that the various moving parts of the machine are in their normal positions with the '1 press head in its extreme open position as shown in Figure 1 and that it is desired to press a garment or other article which has been previously spread out upon the buck 4, the operator will first move the press head together with the rock arm 5 forwardly and downwardly by means of the handle ato substantially its closed position as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, thereby causing the toggle members 14 and --l6 to flex rearwardly to an approximatelybut not quite straightened position.

' This rearward flexing movement of the toggle members 14 and -16- causes the semifloating lever 19 to be rocked about the pivot --20- from the position shown by full lines to the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, during which movement the front end 22 of the lever -l9 will engage the upper end of the latch 23 and force the same forwardly against the action of the spring 31 until the front end 22 of the lever 19- is registered with the lower face of thelatch shoulder -23-, thus permitting the spring --3lto force the latch into engagement with the end 22 of the lever.

.Then, if it is desired to use the power of the motor -28 for exerting additional pressure of the press head upon the garment on the buck 4-, it is simply necessary to open the valve 63 through the medium of its corresponding hand lever 73, link 72- and bell-cranklever -'70, thereby permitting the steam to flow from the source of supply through the pipe 57 into the receiving chamber 54-- and thence through the open port 62- into the cylinder 53-, for forcing the piston 5l and yoke 26-- upwardly.

This upward movement of the piston 51 and yoke 26 causes a similar upward rocking lifting movement of the lever -2l about its pivot 2--. The front end of the semifloating lever 19 is then in engagement with the shoulder --23 of the latch 23- so that the upward rocking movement of the lever -2l-- causes a similar upward movement of the lever --l9 about the fulcrum connection between the front end of the lever -19 and latch shoulder -23 which efiects the straightening and looking of the toggle members 14 and -16 through the medium of the link 18 which, it will be observed upon reference to Figures 1 and 2, forms a toggle connection with the link 19 and when the toggle members --14 and 16- are straightened and locked the toggle members 18- and -19- will also be straightened and locked to assist in holding the press head in its pressing position until the valve 63 is closed by the release of its corresponding operating lever 73--.

During this upward'movement ofthe piston 51 the rear end of the lever 43- will be free to ride loosely across the lower end of the lever 40- and at the same time the lever 21- will be placed under more or less downward spring pressure through the medium of the lever -4G- and spring --50-.

When the pressing operation is completed, the

steam inlet valve 63- controlling the port During this exhaust of the steam from the cylinder, the piston 51- will descend by its own weight aided by the pressure of the spring 50 through the medium of the lever 46, thereby causing the toggle members -l9 and -1B to flex downwardly aided by t1 e weight 19'- on the rear end of the lever -l9 and effecting a corresponding forward flexing of the toggle members 14 and -16, which forward flexing movement is continued by the counter-weight -8 on the rear end of the head supporting arm 5- forraising the press head to its extreme open position as shown by full lines in Figure 1.

During this downward movement of the'piston -5l and resultant opening of the press head, or just before the press head reaches its open position, the rear end of the tripping lever -43-- will engage the lower end the lever 40 andirock the'same rearwardly, "iereby causing the upper end of the lever --ao-- to operate the hand lever 35 and link --3?-- to withdraw the latch 23-- from engagement with the front end of the, lever -l9, thus permitting said lever to assume its normai position, shown by full lines in Figure l, and completing the cycle of operation in that all the moving parts will then be restored to their normal or startin positions.

It is evident, however, that the 23- may be tripped from its holding position at any time by simply operating the lever -35 and link -3'l to the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 2.

It will be observed that when the press head is brought to its closed position by the operator the momentum imparted to the toggle members -l8- and l9- by the upward movement of the weight l9 causes said members and also the toggle members -14 and -l6 to straighten, thereby placing the spring ll .under compression after the head 6 is actually closed upon the buck and it is during this straightening of both toggles and incidental compression of the spring -l1- that the front end 22- of the lever is caused to engage and interlock with the latch 23 ready for the by the operation of the hand lever -35 or by the operation of the lever -l0- upon the return of the power device, the weight -l9'- will flex the toggle members -18 and 19 aided by the expansion of the spring ll sufliciently .to slightly flex the toggle members -14- and 16 aided by the expansion of the preferably compressed spring -1l, whereupon the weight 8 on the rear end of the head-supporting lever 5 will automatically return the head to its open position.

The construction and operation described is particularly simple and efiicient in that it renders such operation safe in the hands of inexperienced or careless users in that the press can not be closed by power until the press head is substantially closed by hand, but obviously various changes might be made in the detail construction without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:-

1. In a garment pressing machine, a frame, a buck mounted on the frame, a rocker arm pivotally mounted on the frame to swing about a horizontal axis located some distance to the rear 1 0f the buck and parallel with the longitudinalcenter thereof and extending forwardly and rearwardly from its pivot, a press head mounted on the front end of the rocker arm to move therewith into and out of pressing co-action with the buck,

a toggle connection between the rear end of the rocker arm and frame, said press head and rocker arm being movable by hand from its extreme open position to an approximately closed position, the toggle being arranged to assume an approximately straight position when the press actuated by the lever about said fulcrum member to straighten the second named toggle and simultaneously to straighten the first-named toggle to close the head during a power stroke of the piston.

a garment pressing machine, a frame, a buck mounted on the frame, a rocker arm fulcrumed on the frame to extend forwardly and rearwardly therefrom and movable about an axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal center and some d'stance to the rear of the buck, a press head mounted on the front end of the rocker arm to move therewith into and out of pressing co-action with the buck, a toggle connection between the frame and rear end of the rocker arm, a lever pivoted to the frame, a second toggle connection between said lever and first-named toggle and having one of its members extended beyond its connection with the lever, said toggles being flexed by the opening movement of the press head and moved toward a straightened position by the closing movement of the press head, a bearing member for engaging the extension of the second-named toggle member as the press head approaches its closed position, and power-operated means for rocking said lever and thereby moving the extension of the second named toggle into engagement with said bearing member for simultaneously straightening both toggles to effect the complete closing of the head.

3. In a garment press, a buck, a self-opening press-head adapted to be closed at will, a fulcrum bearing, a lever, means actuated by the closing movement of the press head for moving said lever into engagement with said bearing, motor-actuated means for rocking said lever about said bearing, to exert final closing pressure upon the press head, and means for moving said bearing out of engagement with said lever.

4. In a garment press, a frame, a buck, a selfopening press-head adapted to be closed at will, a bearing member, a toggle connection between the frame and press-head, a lever fulcrumed on the frame, a second lever pivotally mounted on the first lever, means actuated by the straightening of the toggle for rocking said second lever into engagement with said bearing member, and motor means for operating the first lever to cause the lever to rock about said bearing member as a fulcrum for additionally straightening the toggle. V

5. In a garment press, a frame, a buck, a selfopening press-head adapted to be closed at will, a lever of the third kind normally disengaged from its fulcrum, means actuated by the closing movement of the press-head for engaging said lever with its fulcrum and for transmitting motion from the lever to the press-head when the lever is rocked about said fulcrum, means for rocking said lever about the fulcrum for exerting final closing pressure upon the press-head, and

said second-named toggle member being lever to engage its fulcrum and for transmitting motion from said second named lever to the press head, means for rocking the first named lever about its fulcrum for exerting extra closing pressure upon the press head, and means for disengaging the second named lever from its fulcrum to allow the press head to open.

PYAM L. PENDLETON. 

